Julian Period, 4779. Vulgar Era, 66. Peter declares he thinks it suitable to his Apostleship, as Italy or long as he is in the Body, to remind them of these Truths, Rome. in which they are already established, and to stir them up to the Practice of them; and knowing that his Death is soon to take place (John xxi. 18, 19.), he endeavours, by thus writing to them, to enable them to have these Things after his going out of the Body, always in their remembrance-For they have not published cunningly devised Fables, after the Manner of the Heathen, concerning the Appearance of their Gods on Earth in the human Formwhen they made known to them the Power and the Appearance of Jesus Christ, whose Majesty he himself, with James and John, witnessed in the holy Mount, when God, from his magnificent Glory, declared him to be his Son; which Voice, and the Transfiguration of his Person, confirmed the Prophecies of the Old Testament concerning Christ, to which they are to pay Attention, as the Light that guided Mankind during their State of spiritual Ignorance, till the Day of the Gospel should dawn, and the Morning-star of Righteousness arise in their Souls -Knowing that no Prophecy is of private impulse or invention; for Prophecy was not brought of old to the Minds of those that uttered it, by the Will of Man; but holy Men of God declared the Purposes of his Will as they were borne on or inspired by the Holy Ghost. 12 Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always 13 Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this taber- 15 Moreover, I will endeavour that ye may be able brance. 16 For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eye-witnesses of his majesty 28 26 In a note on our Lord's baptism, I mentioned a treatise of The Julian Pe- 17 For he received from God the Father honour and Italy or riod, 4779. glory, when there came such a voice to him from the ex- Rome. Vulgar Æra, 66. Jehovah, were witnessed by the whole nation assembled round St. John alone, it is said, heard the voice from heaven, and saw The reason why the circumstances of terror were omitted, was the express promise of God, that when he should send them a prophet like unto Moses, he would remember their request, in which they begged that they might not again hear the voice of God, nor see that great fire any more, lest they should die. (Deut. xviii. 15, 16, &c.) If, however, it should be here objected, that Christians assert the voice of God to have been heard at Christ's baptism, Danzius replies, the voice heard on this occasion was "minime quidem terribilis et horrisona: non tamen tenuis, et remissa nimis; sed cum jucunditate quâdam, terrori verborum conveniente, satis sonora et penetrans," p. 348, § 23. The miraculous appearances at Christ's baptism, Danzius asserts, excluded all doubt, even more strongly than those on the Mount, for on this latter occasion the people were at a distance, and restrained by boundaries, while on the former there was no such restraint, some of the crowd being near enough to be in actual contact with Christ himself. To prove that a multitude was present at Christ's baptism, and was not only present, but heard the voice and saw the glorious light and the spirit descending, it is necessary to compare the accounts given by the four Evangelists. That multitudes were present at the time will be readily granted, from the expression used by St. Luke-iv ry ẞaπTIOθηναι άπαντα τον λαον. That they also saw the miraculous appearances and heard the voice, is not so immediately apparent, as it is not expressly asserted by any of the Evangelists, but must be inferred by carefully comparing their several accounts. Indeed, one strong argument may be drawn from the nature of the case as it is doubtless reasonable to suppose that all this was done to convince the people of the divine commission of the person whom they had just seen baptized. The account of St. Luke is couched in such words as exclude no one from participation in the sight; because he ascribes it to no one in particular, but only recounts the wonderful appearances, and it is natural to suppose that he means they were witnessed by all present. The words of St. Matthew may, without difficulty, bear the same meaning. The words of St. Mark alone contain a difficulty. He uses the singular verb side, and connects it with the foregoing verb barrioon, by the particle Kat; whence, according to the rules of grammar, the subject of είδε is the same with that of ἐβαπτισθη. Which being admitted, it follows that Jesus alone saw these miraculous sights-to this it is replied that Kat is here used as the Hebrew 1, which is often Rome. Julian Pe- cellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well Italy or riod, 4779. pleased. Vulgar Era, 18 And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount. 66. 19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day-star arise in your hearts: 20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the Scripture is of any private interpretation 9. 21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. § 3. 2 PET. ii. 1—9. The Apostle foretels, that as there were false Prophets used between two words, having different subjects, of which For an answer to an objection which may be drawn from these 29 Not any prophecy of Scripture is of self-interpretation, or is its own interpreter, because the Scripture prophecies are not detached predictions of separate independent events, but are united in a regular and entire system, all terminating in one great object-the promulgation of the Gospel, and the complete establishment of the Messiah's kingdom.-Horsley's Sermons, vol. ii. p. 13-16. Julian Period, 4779. Vulgar Era, 66. who sinned, but cast them down to Hell, confining them Italy or 1 But there were false prophets also among the people, 2 And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. 3 And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandize of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not. 4 For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment; 5 And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly; 6 And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes, condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly; 7 And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked; 8 (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds :) 9 The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished. $4. 2 PET. ii. 10-16. The Apostle describes the Character of the false Teachers Julian Period, 4779, Vulgar Æra, 66. Rome. Feasts-They beguile Souls not established in the Faith, Italy or 10 But chiefly them who walk after the flesh in the lust 11 Whereas angels, which are greater in power and might, bring not railing accusation against them before the Lord. 12 But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not, and shall utterly perish in their own corruption; 13 And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, as they that count it pleasure to riot in the day time. Spots they are and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings, while they feast with you; 14 Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children : 15 Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness; 16 But was rebuked for his iniquity: the dumb ass, speaking with man's voice, forbad the madness of the prophet. § 5. 2 PET. . 17, to the end. The Apostle compares the false Teachers to Wells without 17 These are wells without water, clouds that are car |